Concern

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[It felt like punishment. It felt like punishment and in no way was that fair. 'Maybe you should go meditate for a while,' his Master had offered the suggestion with a hardened expression that made it seem more like a command. When he'd tried to argue, the door had been pointed out to him. 'It might help you clear your mind.' In hindsight, he couldn't help but wish he'd refused to be dismissed like that. If only, for once, he'd ignored an order. If only he hadn't bowed and taken his leave. If only he hadn't passed by Xehanort and seen the smile in the older man's eyes. If only, if only. There was nothing he could do now to take the sting out of his Master's words. He wasn't to blame for the failure of the mission, so why had he been sent away in the middle of a discussion on how to correct the mistakes made?

Mistakes. If they could even be called that. He wasn't so sure anymore. He could only hope his Master shared in his suspicions... For Xehanort's sake.

He journeyed to one of his favorite waterfalls in Departure and, by it, settled down for the suggested meditation session. He never managed to relax enough to get started. What were his Master and Xehanort talking about back in the castle? Would he ever be told? How long was he supposed to stay out here? What would become of that "Paris" world and the poor, misshapen infant he'd seen? Frustrated by the questions themselves and their ever-elusive answers, as well as by his own wandering mind, he turned to simple tricks to pass the time. He challenged himself to work with his eyes closed as he spun weak fire and blizzard spells together with gravity and aero magic. Then came the Light. Between his hands, the water shifted into the form of a small, koi-like fish with long whiskers trailing behind it. Meager flecks of Light shimmered in the place of its eyes and scales.

A gentle wave of his hand guided the fish along through the air as though the creature were really swimming. Satisfied by the feel of the spells working together, Eraqus at last opened his eyes to scrutinize his creation...

Except what he found himself looking at was not at all what he expected to see. Gone was the grassy slope he'd been seated cross-legged on. Gone was the nearby waterfall. Gone was all of Departure, replaced by what appeared to be, at least at first glance... a kitchen?

The fish broke apart into bursts of ice and fire as it hit the floor of, yes, the Dressing Room's kitchen. The fragments of Light floated up and away, fading as they went.

And there, on the top of the refrigerator, sat Eraqus, wearing the exact same expression he has in the icon.

Oh Light oh Light oh Light. Not good.]

Comments

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

[... Yeah. Pardon Ven here if he stares. He was just in the midst of grabbing something to snack on when Eraqus appeared.

A younger Eraqus, even.

There's a first time for everything.]

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[That's okay, Ven. He's staring back, but he hasn't the foggiest idea who you might be. He slowly pulls his gaze off Ven to stare down at the refrigerator for a moment. And... then he resumes staring at Ven. He won't yell for his Master he won't he won't he won't.]

Who...?

[No.]

What just...?

[No.]

...

[Maybe he should stick to staring for now.]

[erasemefriend.livejournal.com]

... Uh. My name's Ventus.

[He has a right to stare. DR arrival is... certainly strange.]

Hey, are you okay?

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

Ventus.

[He may or may not be staying up on the refrigerator for a while. Part of him is wondering if he somehow fell asleep and this is a dream. A really, really unusual dream.]

My name is Eraqus. I... don't think I should be here.

[seasides]

[what is this even. he'll be pausing in the middle of stepping into the kitchen, raising an eyebrow slowly.]

You alright up there?

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[Who are you and why did my home just transform itself into a kitchen I've never seen before filled with strangers I've never met before? Master might have mentioned transcending worlds through meditation once, but I'm fairly certain this isn't what he meant!]

... Ah, I'm not... sure, actually.

[seasides]

[that is a very good question and he'd be happy to try and answer it if it was actually asked.]

Well. You might want to come down here first. That can't be very comfortable.

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[Give him a minute. The question's lost in a heap of other thoughts, but it's bound to surface sooner or later.]

... Right. Of course.

[Carefully climbing down now, but maintaining his impression of a deer caught in headlights.]

Must you remind me that I don't have any good icons for Xehanort yet.

[photoncharge.livejournal.com]

[You know, it's one thing to see someone materializing on top of the refrigerator. It's another that that person looks like that one picture he saw on Master's study. Have a derp blinking up at you Eraqus, ice cream in hand.]

Well... Yeah. Yeah, I must.

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[Hello, small blond boy. You're being stared at. There is considerably less blinking going on on Eraqus' end of things, too. He might need eye drops soon.]

ihu /goes to look

[photoncharge.livejournal.com]

Uh...

... do you like being on top of refrigerators?

[Today is an odd day indeed.]

/cheers on

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

... This is a first for me, actually. I've never... been on top of a refrigerator before.

[chaserheart.livejournal.com]

[ That sound was her brain breaking. She's...trying not to stare, but it isn't working out so well. ]

Are... you alright?

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[You beat him, Aqua. His brain isn't completely broken yet. Thank you, denial. He manages to swallow before he speaks.]

... I... don't know? ...If I am or not.

[chaserheart.livejournal.com]

Well... Are you alright physically, at least?

[ This is pretty surreal, if nothing else. ]

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[A nod.]

Yes, I believe so... I... Sorry, who are you?

[She's a rather attractive young woman. Which is strictly a passing thought. Like noting that a flower is lovely. Really.]

[walkingspoiler.livejournal.com]

[A rather tired out young man with white hair's just wandered in, looking for a post-training drink. Not a...]

Ah. ...Excuse me. I didn't expect to see anyone - there.

[Don't stare, Xeha, he tells himself. But it's just his luck, he thinks, that when he starts looking for Masters he ends up running into ... one who might not be, yet.]

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[Good that one of them is trying not to stare. That isn't the case with Eraqus. Except it's a stare that could almost be considered a glare. A puzzled glare, but a glare nonetheless. He pushes himself off the fridge.]

Xehanort?

[The man's hair's a bit different and the clothing is definitely new, but he looks like him. It can't be a coincidence.]

[walkingspoiler.livejournal.com]

[Okay, that just confirms his suspicions...]

Y- n- [He sighs. No use denying.] Yes. It's complicated. If you ... want to get down from there, I'll explain what's going on.

[temporaltrap.livejournal.com]

[ Being the only character this mun has at the moment who's all darkness-y, it was only a matter of time before she was thrown. Have a girl who's pretty much all darkness, right down to the yellow eyes, wandering into the kitchen. She's sleepy, and doesn't actually notice that someone's on top of the fridge just yet. ]

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't have much experience in recognizing physical signs of Darkness, but he can sure sense the element in others' hearts. He shifts uncomfortably, leaning forward on one hand in case he needs to make a hasty leap off the fridge and summon his Keyblade.]

[temporaltrap.livejournal.com]

[ She doesn't seem terribly dangerous, the way she just yawns and goes to grab a box of cereal from the pantry. It'll take a moment for her to even notice someone's in the room, since he's not on the floor. ]

...oh!

[madvaporskillz.livejournal.com]

Such a waste.

[Presumably he means the fish, but then again, who ever know what a cat is thinking?]

[eruditum.livejournal.com]

[... Talking cat. Not that he hasn't met talking animals before, but it adds a whole new level of surreal to the experience. Spontaneous transportation to another world, refrigerator, cat.]

What... [He clears his throat, tries again.] What is?

[madvaporskillz.livejournal.com]

[There's a pause, and then he grins.]

Does it matter?